Metallurgical process.



No. 774,304. PATENTED NOV. 8, 1904. M. P. BOSS.

METALLURGICAL PROCESS.

APPLICATION PILED AUG. 6, 1903.

NO MODEL.

UNITED STATES Patented November 8, 1904.

PATENT OEEIcE.

METALLURGICAL PRocEss.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 774,304,.dated November` 8, 1904. Application filed Legus'. 6, 1903. Serial No. 168,464. (No specimens.)

To all whom it may concern.:

Be it known that I, MARTIN PRIOR Boss, a citizen of the United States, residing at San Francisco, county of San Francisco, State of California, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Metallurgical Processes, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a method of converting iron ore into steel continuously within a single furnace structure and depends upon the observed fact that in a furnace heated by a hydrocarbon fuel a hydrocarbon vapor may exist which is not consumed, but will combine with a heated metal when the two are brought in contact.

The object of my invention is to reduce the cost of obtaining steel from an iron ore.

The accompanying` drawings will serve to illustrate such a furnace as may be employed to carry my invention into effect.

Figure l is a plan view. Fig. 2 is a section on the line 22 ofFig. l. Fig. Sisasection on the line 3 3 of Fig. 2. Fig. A is a section on the line A 4: of Fig. 2.

The furnace which is shown consists of an inclined chamber A and a horizontal chamber B. The hearth of the chamber A is preferably formed of refractory bricks C, located one upon the other and in such manner that the successive bricks will form a series of steps. The purpose of this construction is to form a series of surfaces which normally tend to check sliding of the ore-body from the point of entrance to the point of delivery of the molten metal upon the hearth ofthe chamber B. This construction, however, is not essential and may be done away with. The hearth of the chamber B is also shown as inclined from the rear end toward the dischargespout D. Preferably this hearth E is formed of sand or other refractory material.

Located at the top of the chamber A is a hopper F, through which the ore to be treated is introduced. Located under the hopper and so situated as to direct aflame of gas and air in'a downward direction along the chamber A are the gas and air burners G. Any suitable gas and air burners may be employed.

I may use a burner adapted to operate with a hydrocarbon oil or a producer-gas.

Located under the burners G are a series of pushing-screws H, which project at their forward ends into a chamber A. Passing through these screws are oil-pipes I. The object of the screws is to vpush the ore from without inward and downward along the inclined hearth C, at the same time feed into the orebody through the oil-pipes I a certain amount of oil, which I nd to be an advantage and to aid in the decomposition or reduction of the ore.

Connected to the forward end of the chamber B is a iiue J, which communicates with the stack K. Located in the stack K is a verticalltube boiler L. The boiler may be dispensed with.

M indicates a slag-door in the chamber B; N, a door through which access may be obtained to the top of the molten metal on the hearth E of the chamber B; O, a door in the chamber A, through which air may be admitted.

The general method of operation is as follows: The ore is introduced through thehopper F and drops upon the hearth C of the chamber A. .Here it is subjected to the reducing action of the hydrocarbon fuel introduced through the burners G and the pipes I. As the ore is reduced it melts and flows down the inclined hearth C and onto the hearth E of the chamber B. During the passage of the ore toward the chamber B it is brought into contact with a hydrocarbon vapor from the fuel introduced through the burners Gr and pipes I. This vapor combines with the iron ore under treatment with the result that steel having the required proportion of carbon is directly produced. Y

Having thus described my invention, I claim- 1. The herein-described method of producing steel direct from iron ore, which consists in subjecting the ore to the reducing action of a hydrocarbon-flame, and at the same time to the combining action of a hydrocarbon vapor.

2. The herein-described method of producing steel direct from iron ore, which consists in reducing the ore to a molten metallic state by the action of a hydrocarbon flame, and simultaneously subjecting the molten metal to the combining action or' a hydrocarbon vapor.

3. The herein-described method of converting an iron ore into steel, which consists in discharging the iron ore upon an inclined and 5. The herein-described method of reducing an ore-body and introducing carbon into the metal extracted therefrom in sufficient amount to convert it into steel, which consists in subjecting the ore-body to the action ot' a hydrocarbon-flame, and the metal extracted therefrom to the action of a highly-heated free hydrocarbon vapor.

6. The herein-described method of reducing an ore-body, which consists in discharging it upon an inclined and heated hearth, introducing into it a hydrocarbon-body in sutticient amount to convert it into steel, and subjecting it during its passage over said hearth to the action of flame.

7. The herein-described meth od of reducing an ore-body, which consists in discharging it upon an inclined and heated hearth, introducing' into it a hydrocarbon-body in sufficient amount to convert it into steel, and subjecting it during its passage over said hearth to the action of iiame and a hydrocarbon vapor.

In testimony whereof I aiiix my signature in the presence of two Witnesses.

MARTIN PRIGR BOSS.

Witnesses:

HENRY C. DRoGnR, JAMES L. KING. 

